Festival of Trees

A downtown Phoenix hotel's rooftop venue will set the stage for a party featuring a forest of Christmas trees.

By Alexis Getscher

Festival of Trees Ornament

Up On the Rooftop

Third annual Festival of Trees will be staged atop downtown hotel

A downtown Phoenix rooftop will provide a metropolitan atmosphere for a party featuring a forest of Christmas trees that will be sold to benefit charitable causes.

The Festival of Trees will be Dec. 10 at the Wyndham Phoenix.

Event organizer Joseph Gesullo said the venue will set the stage for the third annual party, which is being held downtown for the first time.

"It really kind of has a New York feel to it, a Manhattan feel," Gesullo said. "It's at the Wyndham, up on the rooftop, and it's just kind of surrounded by buildings ... it will be a really beautiful looking event."

More than 40 decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and menorahs have been donated for the event by Valley businesses and organizations.

The trees will be raffled throughout the evening to winners who have purchased tickets ($5 or three for $10 or seven for $20).

Proceeds will benefit Gabriel's Angels, a non-profit organization that provides pet therapy to at-risk children. Partygoers are also encouraged to bring toys, which will be donated to Phoenix Children's Hospital.

The event will also feature a performance by the Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus and an appearance by Santa, who should be right at home on a rooftop.

In past years, the festival has featured a "European Christmas tree," which hangs upside down, and an all-white tree decorated with Barbie dolls. Schuster Printing has donated a tree decorated in Arizona copper.

Trees range from 4 to 15 feet and will be delivered to raffle winners the day after the party.

Last year's event raised about $6,000, and Gesullo said he expects this year's party to raise between $8,000 and $10,000.

Gesullo helped originate the Festival of Trees in 2009 as a project of the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

This year, Equality Arizona is joining in the sponsorship of the event and the organization will provide volunteers for the party and share in a portion of the proceeds, Gesullo said.

To promote the Festival of Trees to a younger audience, the chamber teamed with Sway Events this year.

"I've just seen what they've done with other events and we wanted to bring in some younger people to it, to kind of get the word out even bigger now," Gesullo said.

Sway has helped with event logistics, promotions and venue selection. The Wyndham was chosen because "it's centrally located and they have a great existing relationship with the LGBT community," according to Natalie Cianciola, of Sway.

Gesullo said that the Festival of Trees is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. "I would describe it as the most festive holiday event of the season ... when you throw in the choir with the music, and the Christmas trees, wreaths, lights," he said. "I mean it really is like going to Christmas in New York."

The event will include appetizers and a cash bar. Attire is "smart casual" with jackets and sweaters recommended.

Echo Magazine is a sponsor of the Festival of Trees. -E

VITAL STATISTICS

Festival of Trees
Presented by the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce,
Equality Arizona and Sway Events
Dec. 10
Wyndham Phoenix
50 E. Adams St., Phoenix
Tickets: $25
Swayevents.com/festivaloftrees